Descriptive Paragraph

Prof. Cynthia Garca

To write a descriptive paragraph/essay, youll
need to describe a person, object, or event so
vividly that the reader feels like he/she
could reach out and touch it.

Tips for writing effective
descriptive paragraph/essay:

Tell a story about a moment or event that means a
lot to you--it will make it easier for you to tell the
story in an interesting way!
Get right to the action!
Make sure your story has a point! Describe
what you learned from this experience.
Use all five of your senses to describe the
setting, characters, and the plot of your story. Don't
be afraid to tell the story in your own voice. Nobody
wants to read a story that sounds like a textbook!

How to Write Vivid Descriptions

The table below may help you describe a person,
object, or event for your narrative or descriptive
paragraph/essay?
What do
you smell?

What do
you taste?

What do
you hear?

What do
you see?

What
might you
touch or
feel?




Questions
you may
consider
DESCRIPTIVE example

Have you ever had a moment that was set in your
memory like a snapshot? I have one, and it is of my
Grandma. Her hair was brown and wavy resting just
below her shoulders. Her face, fair and smooth, was
adorned with brown tinted glasses through which her
beautiful brown eyes shown brightly when the light
caught them just right. You could have mistaken her
smile for a movie star's. It could have brightened a
whole city! Her laugh could encourage anyone to laugh
along with her. She had a light inside her that anyone
could see. She was wise beyond her years. She taught me
new things in the years she was here. This is why I hold
this "snapshot" close to my heart.